Cutting Emissions with Light Rail

Editor’s Note: Evan Gorelick (Finley’s cousin) and his fiancé Katie O’Connell moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2017. Staying green in the brown desert — known for its lack of natural water — hasn’t been easy. But they’ve found ways to make it work.

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Katie was used to navigating new cities using public transportation. So when it came time for Evan and Katie to hunt for a new apartment, they zeroed in on options close to Phoenix’s light rail system.

They were lucky enough to find a place about half a mile from a stop that was within our budget. Generally speaking, they knew this was beneficial for the environment. Then they checked out the sustainability exhibit at the Arizona Science Center, where they learned that the “METRO light rail is expected to reduce airborne emissions by more than 12 tons each day compared to emissions associated with the same amount of passengers in cars.”

It helps save money, too! Katie was able to purchase a monthly light rail pass for $2 through a partnership her employer has with the system. Not too shabby when you consider that the average American spends more than $250,000 on vehicles in their lifetime.